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Apple On Track for NFC-Enabled iPhone in 2012?

Tuesday November 22, 2011 6:26 am PST by Eric Slivka

Following conflicting rumors about whether the iPhone 4S would include near field communication (NFC) technology (rumors that were eventually decided in the negative), Digitimes reports that Apple is indeed one of the vendors still expected to introduce NFC-enabled operating system software (and thus hardware) in 2012. Apple's inclusion of NFC in next year's iPhone would appear to come as part of a tipping point for the technology, with the technology's prevalence in the smartphone industry set to increase from about 10% to over 50% in the span of two to three years.
As Android, Symbian, BlackBerry and Bada have supported NFC (near field communication) functions and Microsoft and Apple plan to make Windows Phone and iOS support NFC in 2012, the proportion of NFC-enabled smartphones will quickly increase from less than 10% currently to over 50% in two to three years, according to Taiwan-based smartphone makers.
NFC standardization issues have been one problem slowing adoption of the technology, but with 45 wireless carriers including AT&T and Verizon now signed on to a SIM-based standard, those issues may be reaching a resolution.

Back-and-forth rumors about whether NFC would appear in the 2011 version of the iPhone led to considerable uncertainty about where Apple stood on the technology, with The New York Times noting in March that NFC would be a part of a "coming iteration" of the iPhone without specifying a product generation. By mid-May, Bernstein analysts correctly predicted not only that NFC would not be included in Apple's forthcoming iPhone hardware but that the new iPhone would be an iPhone 4S and not a radically redesigned iPhone 5.

Tag: digitimes.com
[ 61 comments ]


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ipedro
102 months ago

i will say it again...

people can already walk by you and steal your cc info from your cc if it has one of those rfid chips built in (paypass types). storing that kind of info in your phone can only cause more problems.

the best way to pay for your goods is to reach in your wallet and swipe a standard debit/credit card.


A smartphone with embedded NFC chip is far safer than a dumb card that just sits there waiting to broadcast your info. NFC in an iPhone would allow you to confirm on the screen if you want to make a payment and even require you to open an app to turn the NFC chip on.

Your nightmare scenario of people walking by you and swiping your smartphone-wallet is a product of ignorance of the technology. Join the 21st century.
Rating: 6 Votes
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3bs
102 months ago

You can buy a coffee by just swiping your phone, book a hotel and have the room key sent to your phone so no need to check in, buy something at a vending machine, buy tickets for a game/gig/theater on your phone and just swipe to enter venue, etc


A better question is, where can you use this? I haven't heard of NFC being used in Ireland. No point in having an iPhone with NFC capabilities if you can't use them
Rating: 5 Votes
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cire
102 months ago
Am I wrong, but isn't NFC widely used in Japan? If so, where else has it reached tipping point and what is their experience with it?
Rating: 5 Votes
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3bs
102 months ago

Yeah so let's just not make this at all if they can't use it in Ireland... :rolleyes:


That's not what I meant :p
I just hope by the time the next iPhone comes out and if it does have NFC, that I can actually use it and I'm sure a lot of other people would like that too.
Rating: 5 Votes
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bier-meister
102 months ago

What can NFC be used for?


You can buy a coffee by just swiping your phone, book a hotel and have the room key sent to your phone so no need to check in, buy something at a vending machine, buy tickets for a game/gig/theater on your phone and just swipe to enter venue, etc
Rating: 4 Votes
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*LTD*
102 months ago
The coolest way to separate you from your money!
Rating: 4 Votes
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Oletros
102 months ago

the best way to pay for your goods is to reach in your wallet and swipe a standard debit/credit card.


And replicate the card in the same process.

So, why use credit cards?

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+1

If this technology is part of the new OS on my phone, there better be a way to turn it off or the first time I get hacked, I am suing the phone manufacturer!

I don't want this technology and never intend to use. Don't try to force it on me!


Ah, because WiFi and BT can't be turned off because there are part of iOS, no?
Rating: 4 Votes
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BassPlayer
102 months ago
Next: iPad 3, paid with my card
Then: iPhone 5, paid with my card
Then: iPad 4, paid with my iPhone 5
Rating: 4 Votes
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Jefe
102 months ago

What can NFC be used for?


Stealing your identity?
Rating: 4 Votes
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AmpSkillz
102 months ago

You can buy a coffee by just swiping your phone, book a hotel and have the room key sent to your phone so no need to check in, buy something at a vending machine, buy tickets for a game/gig/theater on your phone and just swipe to enter venue, etc


Until I see at least half of those you listed implemented anytime soon, I don't see NFC coming to the iPhone in 2012 nor am I looking forward to it. I'm picking up the new iPhone 4S today so I'll wait for my contract to be over.


The iPhone (and other phones) adding NFC capability is what will spark implementation of those features, not the other way around

it's not like you were seeing those QR bar codes web links for years before most smartphones had apps that could scan them.
Rating: 3 Votes

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